Military news 08-26-08

Tuesday

Aug 26, 2008 at 6:25 AMAug 26, 2008 at 6:26 AM

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Army National Guard Spec. Jaime R. Valenzuela has returned to the 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery, in Sacramento after being deployed to an overseas forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.

Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq's economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq's sovereignty and independence as a democracy.

Valenzuela is an military policeman with three years of military service. He is the son of Juan R. and stepson of Bea Valenzuela of Hesperia. The specialist is a 2005 graduate of Sultana High School.